WHO Warns El Nino May Drive Dengue and Heat Illnesses in India

The World Health Organization has warned that El Nino conditions could lead to a rise in dengue infections and heat-related illnesses in India, NDTV reported on Friday.

The warning was carried alongside reporting from other outlets on the same weather pattern. Greater Kashmir reported that the El Nino health alert has placed Jammu and Kashmir on alert, while the Deccan Herald reported that El Nino contributed to unusually early September heat in Tumakuru, in Karnataka.

A global public health situation analysis published on ReliefWeb, titled "El Nino 2026: Implications for Public Health and Early Action," examines the health consequences of the climate pattern and the steps that can be taken ahead of time. DW.com also reported on regions where El Nino is already having a visible effect.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection, and its transmission is sensitive to temperature and rainfall patterns. Heat-related illness covers conditions caused by exposure to high temperatures. The WHO's warning links both concerns to the current El Nino conditions in India.

el nino

The reports do not include figures for projected case numbers or specify which Indian states face the greatest risk, beyond the alert reported in Jammu and Kashmir and the heat recorded in Tumakuru.

What to watch next: whether Indian health authorities issue state-level advisories or vector-control measures in response to the WHO warning.